Yandex Adds Online Video Streaming to Its KinoPoisk Platform

Published 12:00 PM ET Thu, 8 Oct 2015
Globe Newswire

MOSCOW and AMSTERDAM, Netherlands, Oct. 8, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Yandex (NASDAQ:YNDX), one of the largest European internet companies and the leading search provider in Russia, has integrated online video streaming into KinoPoisk, its film and TV recommendation service. KinoPoisk offers its users an opportunity to watch films and TV shows legally and in high resolution – and all in one place.

KinoPoisk will be available in desktop and mobile versions as well as through native mobile apps for Android and iOS. Initially, content from nine video streaming providers will be available directly on the KinoPoisk platform, which features an integrated universal player that supports various video streaming formats.

To help users decide what to watch, KinoPoisk uses Yandex's recommendation technology, which suggests films that will most likely suit the tastes of each individual user. Users' reviews and ratings help improve the quality of the recommendations they receive. KinoPoisk users can also create their own playlists of films and TV shows and share their playlists with their friends.

"We believe that the re-release of KinoPoisk will help drive our audience to consume licensed content," said KinoPoisk head Olga Mansurova. "This will help our partners increase their monetization and in turn license more content. As a result, our users will have access to more high-quality films and TV shows to watch at their leisure. We want people to keep watching good cinema, and KinoPoisk will help them choose the right film."

Launched in 2003 and acquired by Yandex in 2013, KinoPoisk is the largest Russian-language service about cinema, and the 11th most popular website in the Russian-speaking internet. According to Yandex.Metrica, the monthly unique visitor audience of the service reaches 33 million.

About Yandex N.V.

Yandex (Nasdaq:YNDX) is one of the largest European internet companies, providing a wide variety of search and other online services. Yandex's mission is to help users solve their everyday problems by building people-centric products and services. Based on innovative technologies, the company provides the most relevant, locally tailored experience on all digital platforms and devices. Yandex is the leading search service in Russia and also serves Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Turkey. More information on Yandex can be found at http://company.yandex.com.